The Overtaking: (The Overtaking Series)

Ever wonder what a world without badness would look like? Or how it would feel to live in a perfect environment? The Overtaking takes you to a place where goodness reigns and bad thoughts can simply be erased. People are transplanted from a harmful society to a manufactured city without crime and worries. Danielle believed the premise. She thought she was kidnapping Shayne for his own good, taking him out of an evil environment and giving him paradise. But Shaynes memory wipe does not go as planned, and he retains his mind-reading abilities. Memories of a mother he was programmed to forget pop up, and he starts to realize that things are not as they seem. As Danielles eyes are open, she and Shayne fall in love and discover a nefarious plot built on an illusion. The story is fast paced and fresh--cute and heart-pounding and joyous and gut-wrenching all at the same time. This book was a great start to what will be an epic and exciting series. The cast of characters includes many talents and special abilities as well as two members from the overlord group. Shayne is a cutie-pie, Danielle is gutsy, and Jennaya upbeat and friendly. My only complaint is that one of the heart-throbs died. He had so much potential! (sob, sob, sob). Summary: Delightful sci-fi romance and great start to an engaging series. Victorine Lieske has gathered a personable cast of characters, Shayne, Danielle, Nolan, Celeste, Jennaya, Kellec, Asia, and Gita to fight an evil empire bent on mind controlling a peaceful planet and raiding it for their resources. I cant wait to read the next installment.

I loved Lieskes first book Not What She Seems so when I saw this new book I knew I had to try it out too. I am so glad I did because this was such a fun, different, unique, refreshing read. This book has it all, some mystery, some romance, some action, some paranormal, great setting, great characters, I could go on and on. I am so excited to see what happens next with Shayne and Danielle and all their friends!

A wonderful second book from this New York Times Best Selling Author! I wouldnt be surprised if we see this one in the Times spotlight as well before long. I must confess to my initial feeling of confusion during the first couple of chapters and point of view changes. I struggled to grasp who was who and when and where things were happening. But that feeling was quickly overcome as the story grabbed my attention and refused to let go. I thought the story had great pace, terrific and believable plot, realistic and tangible characters, and just enough romance to make me aaww and not enough to make me gaak! I love a good set of power-hungry nemeses. Very dynamic. I personally was concerned when I heard Victorine Lieskes next book was not going to be a Mystery Romance but more of a Sci-fi Romance. Im not usually a big Sci-fi reader. But this book was not overwhelming with alien jargon or lacking in the intrigue I found so enjoyable in Not What She Seems. I was pleasantly surprised all the way around. Those willing to risk trying something a just a little different wont be disappointed. And lastly, I love that the ending could be, just conclusive enough, for those who would like to read only one book in the series and call it quits, and yet is open enough for those of us left pressing the next page button repeatedly on our little Kindles wishing the second installment was already written! I look forward to it with eager fingers.

Im not much of a sci-fi fan, but the Overtaking was a really enjoyable read, feeling more like an urban fantasy or paranormal romance. The writing was fresh and fun, great turns of phrase and fast paced. Being an indie book, its also nice to point out that this read as clean as any book from a traditional publisher (no errors or typos, etc). The story kept me interested throughout, and I enjoyed the romantic elements. The romance between the main characters was set up really nicely, particularly with the set backs the romance kept facing, and how the characters re-approached their relationship each time. I would give this 5 stars, except that I wish it had ended more wrapped up. I understand there is a sequel coming, but I personally prefer a book to come to a more complete ending even with a sequel on its heels. I am totally hanging out for the sequel now though. I can see this story and world being developed into a great series.

This book is without a doubt a fantastic read for any adult. Although not usually into this type of story (more of a who dun it....loved her book Not what she seems.) This is about romance and mystery with a twist of the supernatural. A good book for all!!! I truly appreciate it when an author can write a book that is not using profanity in every other sentence. The story has teens and adults in the storyline, I truly be happy to share this with my fifteen year old granddaughter. Thanks Victorine for a wonderful and entertaining time!

I was very impressed with this book. Had me hooked from the beginning. No frustrating, obvious grammatical errors that I have found prominent in most self-published books. The author focuses on the story and the romance without focusing on or involving sex. Making it appropriate for any age. I cant wait for book two! Not being a patient person, I hope its soon.

Victorine E. Lieske, author of the romantic suspense novel NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS, changes gears in her sophomore outing ... kind of. While THE OVERTAKING features both romance and suspense, it shifts gears in two important ways: she adopts a science fiction setting for this novel, and due to the age of her characters, the book is likely to attract more of a young-adult audience. THE OVERTAKING is the first novel in a projected series which introduces us to the primary cast of characters. Shayne Bartlett, our main protagonist, is a young member of the Maslonian race, highly gifted with psychic abilities. Yet in short order, Shaynes mother is kidnapped, he joins a ruling council, and then he is kidnapped as well. In his new, post-kidnapping life, where he does not remember his past, he meets Danielle and the two are powerfully drawn to each other. But Danielle is mysterious, a young woman with secrets to hide. Secrets that may affect the future of their budding relationship... and perhaps even the future of Shaynes race. So THE OVERTAKING does have major differences from NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS, in genre, plot, and setting. What has not changed, however, is Lieskes storytelling ability and her capacity for charming readers with the way in which a pair of strangers become a couple. The novel contains echoes of literary and filmed forebears. Some of the SF concepts will ring familiar to those whove read Phillip K. Dicks WE CAN DREAM IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE, while other aspects could remind filmgoers of the Bill Murray-Andie McDowell rom-com, GROUNDHOG DAY. Yet through it all, the story elements blend into a finished product that is distinctly of Lieskes own making. While readers of NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS, which took place in a recognizably realistic world, may feel some need for adjustment to the new setting, the primarily strengths of Lieskes storytelling remain consistent and recognizable in this new entry. One element that is new is that THE OVERTAKING is part of a series. Readers of NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS enjoyed that novels strong sense of possessing a beginning, a middle, and an end. While THE OVERTAKING possess a strong beginning and an entertaining middle, the sense of ending isnt as strong as in NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS because the overall story is not complete. When the final page of NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS was turned, there was a sense that the tale of Steven Ashton and Emily Grant was over, at least dramatically. With THE OVERTAKING, there is a sense of resolution to many plot elements, but also a certain knowledge that more challenges lay ahead for Shayne, Danielle, and those around them. Fortunately, Lieskes novel ends on a story beat that delivers a sense of resolution, even as new threats and challenges await on the horizon. This is superior to some YA series novels, which often seem to end too abruptly, at a moment in which the author hit a pre-set word count and didnt want to write more words per installment than necessary. While I wont spoil the nature of THE OVERTAKINGs closing action here, I will at least say that the story beat on which the novel ends will not leave readers feeling like the book went to commercial and never came back. Will THE OVERTAKING leave readers ready for the next installment? Almost certainly. Yet even as the further adventures of the cast Lieske introduces here are of interest, this novel stands, at minimum, as a satisfying read in and of itself as well. Well done.

This book is very good, but it stops with telling you the second book will be out soon, i think they shouldnt have them to read if you cant finish it. My problem is by the time it comes out I will probably have forgotten the first one

Although I hate to say it, I was somewhat underwhelmed by this book. I had high hopes because Ive heard good things about Lieske, but I just never connected with this book. I read a lot of YA and enjoy fantasy and scifi, so I thought this book would be right up my alley, but I was never sucked into the story...never able to forget I was reading a book. You know how when youre reading a book that you really connect with, you can lose yourself in the story? I was never able to lose myself. It wasnt a bad story. I thought the premise was interesting. Being a comic book fan, I enjoyed the idea of the characters having powers, but it would have been nice to see the powers used a little bit more. It sounds like the powers may play a more key role in later books, so maybe Im just impatient ;) With a romance central to the storys plot, I didnt believe it. Yes, the characters are young and therefore may be forgiven for acting silly, but it still seemed a bit fast to be throwing around the L word after only a few dates. Since this story is obviously going to take up more than one book, I think the romance aspect may have worked better for me if it had been a slower build up across the whole trilogy/series(?). This is also a small nitpick, and maybe its a regional thing, but Shayne spelled like that makes me think of a girls name. Note: I read a free review copy from author

A sophisticated thriller complex but easy to follow. It takes a while to figure out what and where the action is happening. And just because it has some romance in it this is not a romance book. Its pure Sci-Fi. A real page turner.